.My 
ervation 

Oversea 




PRICE 50c 



Mv 

Observation 
Oversea 




PRICE 50c 



My Observation Oversea 




Copyright 1922 



PlftlVATE 

CARL R. LIPSCOMB 

3496049, Co. C, 329 Inf., 83rd Division 
CI A 6 9 4 1 G G 

DEC 23 1922 



^ 



.^^" 

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DEDICATION 



To my father and mother, who 
were so patient and prayerful during 
my service Oversea, I dedicate this 
book. 



FOREWORD 



So constant has been the demand 
of my friends and immediate family 
for a written account of my trip 
aversea, that I have prepared the fol- 
lowing : 

No literary merit is claimed by 
the author for this little book. It is 
a chronological account of my obser- 
vation oversea, while serving with 
the American Expeditionary Force 
during the late World War. As such, 
it is hoped that it will be accepted by 
the public. 

I take this opportunity of publicly 
expressing my appreciation for Cor- 
poral John C. Fowler, who was my 
buddy, advisor and companion dur- 
ing my entire service with the U. S. 
Army. 

Neither can I forbear mentioning 
the sacred memory of my * 'brothers- 
inarms," who received wounds or 
paid the great sacrifice over there. 



INTRODUCTION 



It is a privilege on my part to say 
a word in behalf of the author of this 
little book, who is a young man for 
v/hom I have the highest regards. 

Mr. Carl Roscoe Lipscomb waa 
I om on a farm in Dyer County, 
Tenn, July 7, 1893. His father, Wil- 
]"am Franklin Lipscomb, was born in 
Marshall County, Tenn., June 6, 
1853. His mother was Miss Effie 
Emeline Patterson, and was born in 
McNairy County, Tenn., July 23, 
1855. They were married Jan. 4, 
1877, and have had six children born 
to gladden their hearts, three boys 
and three girls, five of whom are still 
living, one girl having died while 
young. Carl is the youngest of the 
children and is still with his parents 
to help make their last days their 
happiest. 

Carl's father has always been a 
very active and strong man mentally 
and physically. In early life, he 
worked with the I. C. Railroad Com- 
pany, but growing tired of railroad 
work, he invested his small savings 
in a farm near Dyersburg, where he 
has made his home ever since. He 
is a great leader among men, espec- 
ially religiously. He is a strong 
Methodist and never ashamed or 

—5— 



afraid to let the world know that 
he is a Christian. Being such a char- 
acter himself, he seems to have in- 
stilled into his children some of the 
same traits. 

Hence, we find Carl to be a strong, 
fearless and conscientious young 
man with very profound respect for 
the right and a strong hatred for 
what he deems wrong. Having been 
born and reared on the farm, he has 
always been in close touch with na- 
ture and knows, the hardships of 
life as found in the country and at 
the same time, he knows the beauties, 
the purity and the strength giving 
power of life in the country. 

His home being on the edge of the 
Forked Deer River bottom, he spent 
many of his boyhood days in hunting 
and fishing, nor did he neglect the 
old swimming hole. 

After crops were laid by, and dur- 
ing three or four months in the 
winter, he attended school at Sor- 
rell's Chapel until he had finished 
about the seventh grade. Then in 
1912, he entered F. U. College, now 
Unionville High School. However, 
in just a few weeks after he entered, 
the school had to close on account an 
epidemic of smallpox and meningit- 
is. The next year he again entered 
and remained until he had finished 

-6- 



high school, also expression. 

As one of his teachers, I can say 
he was a good conscientious and obe- 
dient student. He was full of ambi- 
tion and bouyant with hope of going 
on in his school work until he had 
finished a college education. But war 
clouds began to hover over our coun- 
try and they grew thicker and dark- 
er until at last we were forced into 
what Sherman called ''Hell." When 
the war broke out, Carl held himself 
in readiness to answer his country's 
call. Some of his friends urged him 
to volunteer, but he said, ''When 
Uncle Sam wants me he will send 
for me." And so he did. In June, 
1918, he was drafted into the service 
from Dyer County, Tenn. After only 
a few weeks training, he was trans- 
ported across the "pond" as the boys 
called it, where he remained until 
after the signing of the armistice. 
What he did and what he saw while 
in Europe, I shall leave for him to 
tell. Suffice to say that the war 
broke into his plans to go to college, 
but that he has not given up hope and 
still wants to continue his studies 
just as soon as possible. Here is a 
wash that he may climb higher and 
yet higher and that his little book 
may be the means of inspiring and 
helping all who read it. 

J. B. HILL. 



MY OBSERVATION OVERSEA 



CHAPTER I 
Nearly two million men have re- 
turned from oversea. Each told a 
story all his own. Yet in substance, 
they all told the same. But in the 
mind of the general public, there is 
a vague mystery as to real conditions 
''over there." The books and stories 
that have been written so far do not 
satisfy the mind of the public. The 
trip oversea, as I observed it, is what 
I shall attempt to express. 

I assume that every one is more 
or less familiar with camp life in 
America. I shall not dwell on that. 
One day, however, you received a 
card from your son or friend, telling 
you not to write again to his old ad- 
dress, that he would be moving soon, 
but did not know where he was go- 
ing. After that the boys disappear- 
ed as mysteriously as the children 
who followed the Pied Piped of Ham- 
lin into the mountainside. The next 
word which came was a notice, stat- 
ing that your son had arrived safely 
oversea. Then day and night, as you 
went about your work or tried to 
sleep, you could see your boy in the 
^h'n^: of the fight, or dying with a 
thousand others, on the battlefield. 

-8- 






CHAPTER II. 

Crossing the Water. 

In my particular case, we, the 
Fourth Replacement Overseas Casu- 
al Company, with thousands of oth- 
eic, after leaving Camp Gordon, Ga., 
cpent about three days at Camp Mer- 
i.tt, N. J. There we made final prep- 
arations for the voyage oversea. On 
August 22, 1918, we went aboard a 
ferry boat at Alpine Landing, N. J., 
then down the Hudson River to a 
pier in New York. There we trans- 
ferred to the steamship, Pyrus, an 
English cattle boat. We spent the 
night in harbor. Ten o'clock next 
morning found us making our way 
out to sea. For two days the weather 
was clear and hot. Then a slow rain 
set in; with the rain we had a cold 
north wind and heavy fog. For 
twelve days longer, under about 
those same conditions, we ploughed 
the deep blue. About daybreak Sept. 
4, some one came from on deck and 
said, **I see land." Such expressions 
were often made and at first it caus- 
ed no excitement. Soon shouts were 
heard on deck, '*We see land, we see 
land." Then we rushed out of the 
hatch by hundreds. Ahead and just 
to the right of us, we could see the 
outline of what proved to be the 

-9— 



shore of Ireland. All shouted for 
joy. The day was fair and cold. All 
day we stood on deck. On our right 
the villages of Ireland were plainly 
visible; on our left, we could see as 
plainly the more barren shore of 
Scotland. The view of this scenery 
lasted most of the day. But was this a 
day of pleasure only ? No ! For early 
that morning the order came that 
every one w^ear life preservers until 
further ordered. Overhead and just 
in front of us were the dirigibles. 
Subchasers were running every- 
where, like a terrier in a weed patch. 
Some English battleships had met us 
to convoy us through the North 
Channel, the Irish Sea and into har- 
bor. This was the most dangerous 
part of our voyage. But the day pass- 
ed without trouble with subs. At 
some hour in the early part of the 
night, we landed safely in the great 
harbor at Liverpool, England. The 
next morning we stepped off the ship 
onto foreign soil. 

The North Channel is a narrow 
straight, only a few miles wide, 
which passes between Scotland and 
Ireland. It connects the Atlantic 
Ocean with the Irish Sea and it was 
while passing through this channel 
that land was visible on both sides of 
our ship. The water of the North 

-10- 



Channel was very rough, even on a 
clear day; it appeared to be deep. 
The roughness of the water, with a 
beautiful mountainous landscape in 
the background, made very beautiful 
ccenery, indeed. 

While crossing the water, we had 
a flotilla of about ten troop ships 
convoyed by four or five battleships 
and as many sub chasers. The ships 
were arranged in diamond shape. In 
this way, assisted through the North 
Channel by a few dirigibles, we 
crossed the Atlantic safely. 



11 



CHAPTER III. 

England. 

We spent only a few hours in the 
citj^ of Liverpool. We saw very little 
of the city. We entrained there and 
began a short trip by land. The out- 
skirt of the city, as we saw it from 
the train, is very beautiful. Most of 
the small towns of England, which 
we passed through, are also very 
beautiful, convenient and perhaps 
comfortable. Small towns are thick- 
ly located along the railroad. The 
dwellings places of the inhabitants 
of these small towns are sometimes 
three or four stories high. The oc- 
cupants were old men, old women 
and children. The people seemed to 
be of a low class. The atmosphere 
seemed to indicate very low morals. 
In drawing this estimation, I bear 
in mind, however, that the country 
was at war. Any one familiar with 
English history can easily trace the 
old system, of Feudalism. 

After riding about twelve hours 
over what I concluded to be the Mid- 
land Railway System, we detrained 
at South Hampton. This is a town 
located on the English Channel. The 
train on which we rode was made up 
of English passenger coaches. They 
were very comfortable; the coaches 

—12— 



have no aisle through the center, but 
are divided into what we called 
''squad coaches." Each coach is di- 
vided into several of these small di- 
visions. The cars have running 
boards on each side; there is no pas- 
sage from one section to the other. 
It was about ten o'clock at night 
when we detrained at South Hamp- 
ton. We spent the rest of the night 
at a small camp a few miles away. 
Our packs were not unrolled. What 
pleep we got was on a wooden floor 
without bedding. The next morning 
we enjoyed a very light breakfast. 
Near noon we started to the docks. 
Cn board a large steamer the trip 
across the English Channel was safe- 
ly made. This was a short trip of 
about twenty-four hours. 



-13^ 



CHAPTER IV. 

We Reached France. 

When we reached land we found 
ourselves at La Harve, France, in a 
land of wooden shoes, wheelbarrows 
and bicycles. We spent one night 
there in squad tents. Next morning 
we entrained again. For about 
thirty hours we enjoyed the great 
Pullman service of France. This 
was from La Harve to La Mans. 
Every ovresea boy understands the 
Pullman service. It was simply this : 
a small French freight car contained 
forty or more men, with all their 
equipment and some canned goods 
for their eats. There were no seats 
or beds in the cars. Side doors were 
closed to prevent falling out if one 
should go to sleep while standing; 
but without the loss of one, we reach- 
ed La Mans. Plenty of good eats 
were served at La Mans. Some of 
us stayed there one night. At La 
Mans we were ''busted up" in a hur- 
ry. That is, the companies were re- 
organized. The new companies were 
then assigned to different training 
camps. Small training camps were 
located in every community all over 
France. We were sent out to these 
camps in trucks. Fifteen or more 
men, with packs on, stood in each 

—14— 



truck while in transit. At these 
camps we received ten days training, 
including a course on the rifle range, 
before being sent to the front. The 
men were then sent to the front in 
freight cars. There they met with 
various experiences. 

When the companies were reor- 
ganized at La Mans, brothers and 
old friends who had been together 
since leaving home were separated. 
Many even lost trace of each other. 
At La Mans, it fell my lot to be as- 
signed to the 83rd Division, with 
which I spent my entire service in 
France. The 83rd is said to have 
been the first organized unit to re- 
turn home. 



15- 



CHAPTER V. 

How We Lived in France. | 

In camp we were usually very 
comfortably housed in ''billets." All 
over France there were houses and 
barns, which had been abandoned by 
the French civilians. These were 
used by the American Government to 
house the soldiers. They were call- 
ed "billets." The houses were also 
used lor offices, hospitals, canteens 
and "Y's." Each soldier carried In 
his pack from one to three heavy 
woolen blankets. The number de- 
pended on the season of the year. 
When we went into quarters for a 
week or more, we were given bed- 
sacks, which we filled with straw. 
The bedsacks, three blankets, over- 
coat, raincoat and shelterhalf, made 
a very comfortable bed for a tired, 
foot-worn soldier. When one was lo- 
cated indefinitely, he was able to se- 
cure more blankets. Some one was 
taken to the hospital or front most 
every day. Equipment of all kinds 
was strown around. In that way one 
was able to secure several blankets 
or other equipment. 

The "billets" were badly scattered. 
We would often hike half mile or 
more in the dark to stand reveille. 
Reveille is the first formation in the 

—16— 



morning. Roll is called and a few 
men may be given special duty for 
the day. After reveille, we would 
get breakfast. For breakfast we 
would get a spud with the jacket on, 
come prunes, a piece of bacon, some 
ryrup or corn meal. After we had 
fni?hed eating we fell out for the 
dnty of the day. At eleven-thirty, 
all work ceased until afternoon. For 
dinner we would have roast beef 
with gravy, or beef stew or beans. 
Each man was given two slices of 
bread each meal. Coffee was served 
\vith every meal. 

At one o'clock, we assumed our 
duties again until four-thirty. Near 
six we stood retreat, which is the 
last formation of the day. Immedi- 
ately following retreat, supper was 
served. For supper about the same 
eats were served as for dinner. 
Many times we did not get enough to 
eat. A few weeks prior to the sign- 
ing of the armistice, troops came 
over so fast and in such large num- 
bers that they could not be properly 
cared for. Often six hundred men 
were sent where only three hundred 
could be cared for. No doubt, how- 
ever, that, with caution, the short- 
age of food could have been largely 
averted. Be that as it may, such 
things came into our life oversea. 

—17— 



CHAPTER VI. / 

Hoiv the French People Live, r 

The French people were very good 
to us. Their language and customs 
were somewhat strange to us for a 
while. Many of the French people 
are small in statue. Others are 
heavy-set. They have rosy cheeks, 
dark hair and eyes. Blonds are in 
the minority. Those who are tidy 
and well dressed are fairly good- 
looking, but not the American ideal 
of beauty. 

Nearly all kinds of vegetables are 
grown in France. Much of the 
ground is sown in grass. There is 
also a large acreage of wheat. Grapes 
grow in abundance. They are used 
for making wine. On most farms 
there are a few apple trees. A large 
amount of hemp is grown in some 
sections. Most every family has a 
cow and goat. Most of the milk 
from the cow is used sweet. The 
goat milk is made into cheese. The 
natives seem to care very little for 
butter, although there is some on the 
market. Often there are a few chick- 
ens about the place. Many large rab- 
bits are raised to be eaten. Vege- 
tables, cheese, milk and cider, a rab- 
bit or chicken is the principal food. 
The bread is often bought at the lo- 
cal baker shop. 

—18— 



If you go into a French home, be- 
foi 8 you are seated you will be given 
a £:aLs of wine or cider. You must 
drink if you wish to remain a friend 
of the family. If you are sufficient- 
];/ acquainted with their language, 
you would please them by giving a 
^oast as you touch your glasses and 
begin to drink to the Allies or the 
F-£Rch Government or their son on 
the f ont. As long as you remain in 
the home drinks are frequently of- 
fered. If the mother or daughter 
-'"u-pect:. that you have a cold, you 
w^.l be given a cup of boiled milk 
with a bit of sugar in it. The French 
women are very industrious. They 
are saving and home loving. Once 
you gain their friendship and confi- 
dence, no favor is too great for them 
to render you. They are very desir- 
ous of money. Herein lies the weak- 
ness of the French people, for this 
leads to low morals. 

The educational standard seems to 
be very low. School is held in the 
churches. The small children study 
a catechism of the Bible or Catholic 
Church. I had no occasion to see the 
tc»xt books used in the higher grades. 
There is no recreation or athletics 
in the school.. This, perhaps, ex- 
plains why of undeveloped bodies. 
So far as I could learn, there is no 

—19— 



/ 

church in France except the Cathohc ' 
Church. 

A very peculiar custom of the 
French people is the manner in 
which they wash their clothes. Near 
the house they have a pit dug in the 
ground three or four feet deep. 
Some pits are lined with stone or 
concrete. The pits are full of water. 
After the clothes have been put into 
the water, they are laid on a board 
and scrubbed clean with a stiff 
brush. The clothes are not often, if 
ever boiled. The French women were 
often glad to wash for the soldiers 
at a very reasonable price. 



-20- 



CHAPTER VII. 

Signing of the Armistice. 

The signing of the armistice was 
not a surprise to us. We received a 
dail3^ paper from Paris. We were 
also pretty well informed regarding 
conditions at the front. When we 
were sure that the armistice had 
been signed, a wild excitement broke 
out. Lanterns and flags were hung 
from, every house. Many guns were 
fired and everybody was happy. 
After the armistice was signed we 
thought of coming home for the first 
time. From November the 11th un- 
til Christmas nothing unusual hap- 
pened. 



-21 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Christmas in France. 

Cn the night of December 24, a 
Christmas tree was given to the 
French school children by the Amer- 
ican Y. M. C. A. A small pine tree 
was used. It was beautifully light- 
ed and trimmed. The tree was in a 
small canvas house. A French in- 
terpreter made a speech in English. 
I am not sure that he later spoke in 
Fi'ench. The night was clear and 
cold. The natives for miles around 
came to town for the occasion. Old 
people, as well as children, enjoyed 
the arrival of Santa Glaus. The town 
was small and well filled with people. 
The sound of wooden shoes and hob- 
nails could be heard everyv/here. The 
American soldiers crowded in around 
the tree and forced many of the na- 
tives back. Otherwise the French 
people might have enjoyed the oc- 
casion even more. But the occasion 
will be long remembered, both in 
America and France, and I doubt if 
such will ever occur again. 

In our particular camp nothing 
special was served for Christmas 
dinner, yet Christmas was very en- 
joyable, for at that time we were 
expecting the order that would start 
us on our homeward journey. We 

—22— 



were held in suspense, however, un- 
til Dezember 31. It was on that day 
that the welcome order came. 



CHAPTER IX. 

New Year's Day in France. 

On Januaiy 1, 1919, long before 
daybreak, bonfires could be seen in 
every direction. These fires told of 
the thousands of American soldiers 
burning the straw from their bed- 
sacks. Near ten o'clock, we assem- 
bled and took up the only welcome 
hike that we ever made. Out of those 
thousands, not a man was missing. 
On a hike of about seven miles, to 
my knowledge, not a man fell out or 
complained. Late in the afternoon 
w^e entrained at Ecamoy, for Brest. 



-23— 



CHAPTER X. 

Brest. 

Biest is a port of embarkation. A 
laige le^t camp is located near there. 
Some American woman has truth- 
fully said that ''nothing rested there 
hut the stomach." But this night, in 
the city of Brest, we had a good sup- 
pei before taking up the hike to 
ramp. Now, no doubt, you have read 
of the awful condition of this camp. 
I have been asked if half is true that 
has been written about the camp. It 
is all true, I have never read an 
unt' ue statement regarding its con- 
dition. 

As has already been intimated, we 
entered the camp at night. We wad- 
ed mud knee deep before we reached 
the tents we were assigned to. There 
was no floor in the tents. Mud and 
water was shoetop deep in them. We 
were fortunate to have ''duck 
boards" to sleep on. All tents were 
not furnished with "duck boards." 
These boards were about six feet 
long and eighteen inches wide. They 
were made ^of two by four timber 
with one by four nailed across. They 
had been made for walk-ways in the 
camp. Two boards were laid side 
by side. Two men made their bed 
together on them. With these boards 

—24— 



laid in the mud, the water would 
soon come through our bedding and 
Clothes. There no man dared' pull 
off hiii clothes to sleep, for he haa no 
piace to put them. But we only stay- 
ed m the tent3 a few days. We then 
moved into barracks, which had elec- 
tiiC lights, bunks and stoves in them. 
We did not drill while in this 
camp. The camp was being built. 
We did our share of the building ; we 
woiked day and night. More than 
once we stayed on duty twenty-four 
hours without sleep. Kain and mud 
stopped no one from work, for we 
had both most of the time. The use 
of this camp was later abandoned, 
because of the muddy, unsanitary 
condition. 



-25 



CHAPTER XI. 

The Return Home. 

The late aiternoon of January 22 
found us on board the steamship 
'Mmnekahda." We were ready for 
the tafe and happy trip over the sub- 
less sea. January 31, we entered the 
haiboi at New York City. The grand 
old Statue of Liberty gave us a hap- 
py welcome back to our home land. 
As we entered the harbor, a commit- 
tee of welcome, sent out by the may- 
01, met us. The band which accom- 
panied the committee, played ''Home, 
Sweet Home." The air was filled 
with joy and laughter. The thought 
that we had been spared through 
Luch a conflict and again permitted 
to glimpce the greatest city in the 
world brought joyous tears from the 
eyes of many. 

We spent seven very pleasant days 
at Camp Mills, Long Island, New 
York. I was in the City of New 
York a few hours one Sunday. I 
visited the Metropolitan Museum of 
Arts, the Woolworth Building, Wall 
Street, Pennsylvania Station and 
Broadway at night. My observation 
in New York was too meager to justi- 
fy an attempt at description. Every- 
one should see New York City and 
the ocean. 

—26— 



We had a fine trip from New York 
to Louisville, Ky. On this trip, of 
about two days and nights, we had 
real Pullman service. After a week's 
^tay at Camp Zachary Taylor, we 
leceived our discharges. 



-27- 



CHAPTER XII. . 

The Service of the Y. M. C. A. Over- 
sea. 

I don't feel that I can conclude 
this description without mentioning 
the work of the Y, M. C. A. oversea. 
It is not my intention to eulogize the 
'*Y" o: condemn any other similar 
organization which served over 
there. Facts are sufficient. The 
considerate men who were oversea 
and are in possession of the truth, 
i egret very much that the Y. M. C. 
A. has been assailed, regarding its 
service oversea. We are surprised 
how readily many of the oversea men 
accept and help spread the propagan- 
da which some enemy of the Y. M. C. 
A. started. The Y. M. C. A. does 
not not claim to be a perfect 
organization. Nor does it claim 
that every person in its serv- 
ice was equal to the task to which 
he was assigned. It is only natural 
that through hasty recruiting many 
incompetent persons found their 
way into the ranks. Any misconduct 
or bad service on the part of a *'Y" 
worker should be charged to the in- 
dividual. The Y. M. C. A., as an or- 
ganization, is the greatest of its kind 
in the world. Statistics show that 
at the signing of the armisice there 

—28— 



were "welfare workers in France" 
as follows: 

Young Men's Christian Association 

Men -...__ .- 6,500 

Women 1,350 

Total 7,850 

Knights of Columbus 
Members -..- 434 

Salvation Army 

Men 52 

Women 58 

Total 110 

The A. E. F. appreciates the serv- 
ice of the Y. M. C. A. and all other 
welfare organizations. We are glad 
for the public to know the truth re- 
garding the sei'vice of each. 



-29- 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Conclusion. 

This is the substance of my trip 
oversea as I observed it. Many had 
a gx eater and more thrilKng experi- 
ence than this. This account, I think, 
will pretty near meet the demand of 
the public, which is so anxious to 
know the truth regarding conditions 
"over there." Many details have been 
left out because I think them not es- 
sential. I have refrained from men- 
tioning extreme conditions. This de- 
scription was written from observa- 
tion. I kept no diary as it was against 
military law. 

I have only hinted at the moral 
condition. That subject is so deli- 
cate I hardly feel competent to do it 
justice. It is true that many of our 
boys found the temptations too great 
to overcome. Some ministers like to 
dwell on this fact. No person unfa- 
miliar with the moral condition, as 
we found it over there, has a right 
to ridicule the oversea boys. Seem- 
ingly, they are hard hearted. The 
boys deserve great crdit for the high 
standard of purity which they main- 
tained and brought back under such 
conditions as they found oversea. 
Both in England and France strong 
drink flows as in branches. Other 

—30— 



temptations were equally as great. 
When you speak of those hard-heart- 
ed boys, don't forget that every boy 
who crossed the sea looked death 
squarely in the face. No one feared 
death. Mentally, they had been 
drawn so close that they became sub- 
missive to death. Loving tenderness 
from proven virtue will win them for 
Christ. 



-31— 



A ROMANCE OF MEMPHIS 



The armistice had been signed. 
The days of construction and recon- 
struction had begun. They were 
days of construction, especially in 
the little city of Memphis, Tennes- 
see. A hospital and nurses' home 
was to be built here. This was a 
great project for the little city. Tt 
called for a skilled engineer and 
master workmen. The engineer was 
William McCoy, who came from the 
extreme South to superintend the 
work. 

With the superintendent came 
Rose McCoy, his daughter. Roso 
was a beautiful blonde. She was a 
typical young woman of the South. 
Within her bosom was a broad love 
for humanity and a desire that all 
men love and do justice to each oth- 
er. Only a few weeks before. Rose 
had graduated from the female 
school of expression at Blue Moun- 
tain, Mississippi. It was in the 
early days of June when Rose came 
to Memphis. The great outdoor 
world, with its carpet of green, its 
green trees and the sweet fragrance 
from the blossoming flowers gave 
her great inspiration and a new hold 
on life. 

Howard Strachn was a returned 

—32- 



soldier of several month3' ssrvice 
overseas. His service amon^- the 
starving Belgians increased his sym- 
pathy. While dealing with the Ger- 
mans, ha learned to hate and destroy 
that which is wrong. His suffering" 
from hunger and ths exposure of 
oversea life increased his love for h'.> 
home and his country. As he learned 
of the immorals, the shame and dis- 
rrvare wh^lch v/as found ove^'sea, it 
gave him a greater appreciation for 
the American girl, her beauty, her 
shrewdness and her virtue. Because 
of this experience, he placed a high- 
er estimation on the sun-tanned face 
and hands which come from honest 
toil. 

Unlike many returned soldiers, 
Howard did not take a long vacation 
after his return to America and his 
discharge from service, but immedi- 
ately took up his former trade, which 
was that of a carpenter. Learning 
of the erection of the hospital, How- 
ard applied for work, which was 
given him. Superintendent McCoy 
soon valued Howard very highly, and 
one morning called him from his 
work to give him some special in- 
structions. As they stood looking 
over the plans, they had a very wel- 
come intruder. 

Rose enjoyed carrying her father's 
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lunch and seeing the great throng of 
men as they came from the building 
at the noon hour. This day Rose 
could not resist the temptation of go- 
ing with the lunch. As she approach- 
ed her father, she hardly noticed that 
he was busy, but ran to him, and, 
as she threw her arms around his 
neck, said : 

"Oh, papa, papa, I am so happy!" 

Taking in the situation, Supt. Mc- 
Coy turned to Howard and said : 

"Mr. "Strachn, meet Rose, my 
daughter." 

"Glad to know you, Mr. Strachn," 
was her reply. 

Noticing a ladder which reached 
the third story, Rose turned and ran 
away. Her father hardly realized 
that she was gone until he noticed 
her more than half way up the lad- 
der. As he resumed the conversa- 
tion with Howard, he remarked with 
a friendly chuckle: 

"That girl is a sight." 

This exclamation being finished, 
Howard returned to his work, think- 
ing of the beautiful girl and her 
bravery. 

David Long had recently returned 
from France, after a lengthy service 
with the 114th Engineers of the 
American Expeditionary Force. His 
return had been an eventful one. He 

—34- 



had just married and it seemed that 
a long life of happiness awaited him. 
bmce he began work for kSupt. Mc- 
uoy, he had constantly worked be- 
side Howard Strachn. Because of 
then experiences oversea, Howard 
and David could very readily appre- 
ciate each other. Out of their ac- 
quaintance arose a close friendship. 
Uavid was interested in a new pro- 
ject which was soon to be launched 
and invited Howard to his homa fo/ 
lunch. 

Mrs. Long was a charming bru- 
nette of twenty-two. She loved her 
husband and was ever true to him; 
at all times, she tried to anticipate 
his wishes. Any friend of her hus- 
band was always a welcome visitor 
to their home. 

As David came for lunch, accom- 
panied by Howard, Mrs. Long asked 
herself the question: 

''What in the world shall I have 
for them to eat?" 

After Howard had met Mrs. Long, 
he and David were seated and, while 
lunch was being prepared, they talk- 
ed over the possibilitis of the new 
steamboat company, which was soon 
to be organized. 

In the estimation of their hostess, 
all attempts at a creditable luncheon 
had failed. But the meal was now 

-35— 



ready, and, with a bit of embarrass- 
ment, she invited the two men to the 
table. As the three partook of the 
meal together, they talked of school 
aays and reviewed the part of the 
Americans in the War, which had 
jut closed. When the luncheon was 
finished, Howard and Mr. Long arose 
f.om the table. Howard, turning to 
Mrs. Long, said : 

''Mrs. Long, I certainly enjoyed 
your lunch." 

'Thank you, but I am afraid you 
didn't," was her reply. 

Howard and David returned to 
their work, feeling sure that they 
were able to master any piece of 
work which might confront them. 

James Ellis, a former lover of 
Mrs. Long, persisted in paying her 
visits against her wishes, but she 
kept the secret from her husband, be- 
cause she feared a tragedy. James 
Ellis knew where Mr. Long was em- 
ployed. He made it convenient to 
pass there on his way to visit Mrs. 
Long, to make sure that David was 
at his work. As he passed, James 
would often stop for a chat with 
Sunt. McCoy. 

Rose McCoy was a daily visitor 
where her father was working. It 
was her delight to get a saw or ham- 
mer and help. Howard Strachn was 

—36- 



glad for her aocistance ; she was very 
busy trying to saw some plank 
wh^"ch Howard had marked off for 
hei, when James Ellis inquired of 
Howard : 

''Who is this pvetty laborer?" 

Alter an introduction to Rose, 
James passed on and paid his visit 
to Mrs. Long, thinking little of the 
one he had just met. 

When James reached the house, 
Mrs. Long was fully determined that 
this should be his last visit to her; 
if it took a tragedy, then let it be! 
Even if she was the one to commit 
the tragical deed! As James enter- 
ed, Mrs. Long met him at the door: 

**James Ellis, do not enter my 
house any more. I have asked you 
not to come here, and it does no good. 
This shall be your last visit. ' I will 
tell my husband, and he will ." 

James knew that a crisis was at 
hand. Excitedly he hurried away. 

As Howard and David were work- 
ing, there was a heavy piece of tim- 
ber to be raised, which was a very 
dangerous task. Howard insisted 
upon doing it alone, but David would 
not consent. As the timber was be- 
ing raised, Howard remarked to 
David : 

''If you have an accident, I will 

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